Blanche Benton

ALZ-Inspired Art

Roxanne — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 00:59:01 +0000

My mom spent several decades taking classes and making representational art, working in pastels, pencil, and pen. After her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s in 2007-2008, she continued drawing and coloring frequently. Around 2010, she developed a unique style that she explored in depth over the next few years. She was fascinated with people, with shapes, with color, and with her life in Palm Beach, FL. Hardly a day went by without driving by the ocean, stopping to look at the freighters and sailboats offshore. Close observers will also see evidence of her love of golf and tennis, too. I find these fascinating and hope you do as well.

In the months before she died, she spoke to me many times about her ALZ, as we called it for short. She really wanted people to know that it’s not a bad thing. That she learned how to accept help from others. She went from being proudly self-reliant to loving being waited on. She learned to seek out the fun – “If it’s not fun, we’re not doing it!” And I learned to be able to turn off the phone and computer and enjoy sitting still with her as we colored and drew for hours. She was famous in our family for hosting an annual “Coloring Contest and Ice Cream Social” during the family reunion at the beach in South Carolina. Her hostess skills were perfectly on display – an activity that fed the competitive urges of our extended family and that also kept the little kids occupied without much supervision. Ending it all with ice cream! How does life get any better than that?

~ Roxanne

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Blanche’s Family

Roxanne — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 00:48:17 +0000

Blanche has four daughters. Here’s a snap shot of the family tree and a few pics of both immediate and extended family with more to come!

Please email me if you have photos to add! ~ Roxanne

Barbara Striebel married to Karl Striebel

Roxanne Darling with Shane Robinson

Judy Dennis married to Mike Dennis; they have three daughters.
– Carlie Quezada married to Chris Quezada
– Annie Dennis
– Christina Dennis

Nancy Lievois married to Jim Lievois; they have two sons.
– Jordan Lievois
– Tyler Lievois

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Blanche and Bill – What a life!

Roxanne — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 21:27:39 +0000

Over sixty years of marriage and adventures across numerous continents, Blanche and Bill made an extraordinary life for themselves. Bill may have been the one getting most of the attention out there in the world, but make no mistake – Blanche was working hard and fulfilling her own destiny in her own ways.

Please enjoy a tiny sample of their life together. Please email me if you have photos to add! ~ Roxanne

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Independent Blanche in Pictures

Roxanne — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 21:12:14 +0000

Blanche was always such an independent person who actually enjoyed time alone. Much as she loved family and friends, she was never afraid to be alone. So I thought it would be fitting to have a photo album of “just Blanche.” Please email me if you have photos to add! ~ Roxanne

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Blanche’s Angel Friends

Roxanne — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 21:01:56 +0000

Blanche surrounded herself with such amazing people who loved and supported her in countless ways. She drew charming people to her, regardless of her age or theirs. You all played such an important role in her life as friends and caregivers – and who can distinguish between those two roles, actually? She loved sharing so many laughs and adventures (and sometimes tears) together.

I’m missing a lot of people! Can you help, please, and email your pics with Blanche to me so they can be added here. I want to tell a more complete story of the many angel friends in Blanche’s life! ~ Roxanne

Merry Christmas, December 25, 2014

Roxanne — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 02:16:47 +0000

Here’s the note Blanche included in her Christmas card this year. I’m happy to say it generated a lot of calls and emails from friends.

Dear Friends,

I’ve been enjoying many holiday cards and letters. For the first time in a while, I’m sending out a card too! It’s been a wonderful year, as I, and many of my friends, turned 90 years old!

I’m still living in Bloomfield Hills and Palm Beach – choosing the best weather seasons for each.

I’m also letting you know I was diagnosed with ALZ. I am happy to share that my doctor says I am doing better than anyone could imagine. I’m all here – I just don’t bother with the little daily details. Fortunately, I have four wonderful daughters and several caregivers to handle that for me.

I hope you’ll stay in touch! Do you use email? My daughters would love for you to email us so I can update my address book with your information.

Wishing you the best in 2015!

Celebrating Blanche’s 90th Birthday

Roxanne — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 07:46:59 +0000

August 24, 1924

Thank you to all the friends and family who stopped by the open house to raise a toast to Blanche! After all that, her granddaughter Annie invited all of the family over to dinner, where we celebrated with a gorgeous and delicious cake! We were missing some of our dearest friends and family – please know we were thinking of you and wish you had been there with us! Great photos by Nancy.

Click on any image to open a large size slideshow. Click on either side to move forward or backward. Right-click or control-click on an image if you want to save a copy for yourself. ENJOY!

Every time I hear it ring

Roxanne — Wed, 14 May 2014 01:08:18 +0000

A telephone is a wonderful thing!
It always makes my heart sing
Every time I hear it ring!
— Blanche Benton

Watch the Video from the Art Show

Roxanne — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 23:23:35 +0000

My daughter Roxanne made a Beach Walks with Rox episode from the art show. It will give you a glimpse into how much fun we had – it was a great party and I was so happy to see so many of my friends and all four of my daughters come and share the moment with us.

Watch more BeachWalks.tv episodes here.

Comments:

Blanche – how great it is to hear your story and see your art. You truly are talented and I’m so glad you chose to share it with the rest of the world. Its beautiful! – Peter

Of most of the Beach Walks shows I’ve seen this was one of my favorites and it’s always priceless to see family take interest in each others talent and combine both to make a very touching moment i time. =Ipo=

Thanks from Blanche and Bill

Roxanne — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:38:34 +0000

Crocosmia (#51)

Today is actually Bill’s 84th birthday! He has been a great supporter of me and my art pursuits. Thanks Bill for helping me put on such a great party and art show.

One of the many things that has touched me about this process is how the different pieces of art make a connection in someone else’s life. The Crocosmia picture, for example (#51) was purchased by a friend of mine – we both grew those flowers in our gardens.

Here’s what another friend said about her purchase of “Chair‚”(#30):

“So pleased you thought of me for your art show. You should be so proud of yourself with all your many gifts and talents. I gave Deidre your lovely painting of the French 18th century chair. We are going tomorrow to get it framed. Her birthday is in November and I knew she would love because she has two of my hand made chairs just like the picture.”

These are some of the other comments I have received:

Hi Mom! I love your work and am so happy that I was able to be there with you and all the family. I am going to work on a short movie next from the day of the show. – Roxanne Darling, daughter

Mom, This is a great website you’ve put together (with Roxy’s help). Your artwork looks great but it looked even better in person! With all the fires in California I’m glad I was able to make the trip to Michigan to be at the art show. – Nancy Lievois, daughter

Hi Grandma Blanche, Great website you put together with Roxy, and i absolutely love the artwork! Now i can brag to my friends that my grandma is an artist and knows how to make a website on the internet . Also happy birthday to Grandpa Bill. My favorite painting was probably the portrait of Grandpa Bill. I wish i could have made the art show! – Tyler, grandson

Grandma Blanche, your artwork is amazing, you must have spent hours and hours on some of those keep up with it, i love artwork and would love to see more of your stuff on the website! good luck with your work – Jordan, grandson

“Mr. & Mrs.B,”….. What can I say but I sure am impressed with all you two have been up with in the past few years and way before then I guess!!!! The picture of the 2 of you is great!! I look forward to seeing you in Florida. I love the artwork!!! Did not know about this hidden talent of yours!! I like the “Pink Vase” picture, but don’t see a price on it??? Take care, Love you Both!! Oh! Happy Birthday also Bill!! – Connie McIntosh

Hi Mrs. Benton, this is a wonderful web site and I LOVE your art work I especially like the Models….the “teenager” especially. Do you think it is because I am surrounded by teenagers constantly?! I really wished I could have made it to your show. Invite me again please. Love, Mary Jo (Banyai/Nagle)

Aunt Blanche, Great show. I particularly liked the still life’s, Wheat Field and of course your portrait of Bill. Wish we could have made the show, and appreciate Roxanne putting the web site together so we could enjoy your work. – David Lampke

Greetings; I found your site through Roxanne and enjoy your work. It’s really fun to see the world through another person’s eyes. Thank you for sharing! I was always drawing pics of cars and palm trees as a kid but it was always doodling, nothing in the way of a complete composition. Three of the neighbor ladies painted as a hobby. However it was Loy (Mrs. Green) who lived next door, that attempted to teach her youngest daughter Betsy and me how to paint once or twice – I though it was difficult. Loy took us to ceramic glasses regularly too. She followed the lesson and Betsy and I did our own thing (including lots of giggling), and that was a lot easier… (smile) Ah, great memories ‚Äì thank you! The video of the party looks like you had a hoot too – congrats! Oceans of Aloha from San Diego, CA

I enjoyed Roxanne’s video of your art show and think it’s wonderful that you decided to “show the world” what you’ve been up to all these years. I hope you’ll continue with your sketching and it’s never to early to start planning for your next exhibition! – Kate I

Aunt Blanche, Can’t believe you have kept your wonderful art work hidden for so many years. You are very talented! Were your coloring contests at the beach a clever search for other talented family members? You & Uncle Bill continue to inspire me with your love and zest for life. – Susan Scott